Tag Archives: Speech

This has been making the rounds, but it”s worth posting here. Poet Taylor Mali”s “Totally like whatever you know?” has been animated by Ronnie Bruce, a film student. The resulting video has been a hit throughout social media outlets over the last week .

What follows is Mali”s lament over language that speaks with little to no authority through the use of discourse particles such as “y”know”, “whatever”, and “like.” Watch casino pa natet and listen…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kdrsPRZnK8

Like, that was so powerful…just kidding.

Mali”s poem (brought to life through Bruce”s animation) declares the importance of speaking with authority and power. This is an important lesson for young writers and speakers to learn. A thesis or declaration in a speech is so much more meaningful without the discourse particles.

How might you use this video with your students? How might you students create a product with the same impactful imagery of our words driving the point home? What message do you take away from Mali”s poem?

Zac Early is like an instructional specialist or whatever with the eMINTS National Center, y”know?